Two County Sheriff’s Respond to Coast Guard Shifting of Seasonal Personnel

SANDUSKY, MI – Huron County Sheriff Kelly Hanson and Sanilac County Sheriff Garry Biniecki along with other local officials attended a meeting at Coast Guard Station Harbor Beach to hear firsthand of plans by the Coast Guard to limit services to seasonal activities beginning as early as this fall.

“I believe they are justifying their Marine SAR Missions based on Statistics showing when they are needed,” stated Sanilac County Sheriff Garry Biniecki. “As an Administrator I know how important it is to have staff in the right place at the right time. We as Sheriff’s have been using computer generated statistics for years now to better optimize our patrol needs. As we see it they are planning on shifting personnel to other sectors during the late fall, winter, and early spring months and their statistics show just that.” Peak recreational boating activity for them is May through September.

Huron County Sheriff Kelly Hanson further stated, “Sheriffs are here and will continue to be here all year. We are better prepared during that off season as shown by the acquisition of our new Air Boat the Sheriffs’ Endeavor.”

It will still be business as usual. Sheriff’s Deputies will still be responding directly to the public needs and the Coast Guard will be responding from either Port Huron or Saginaw to assist. They have reassured us that their air assets, such as helicopters will still be available year round. The Coast Guard has been asked for additional information along with what equipment could be repurposed to us locally.